How Do I Get A Schedule Of The Earnings Years Used To Determine My Social Security?
How do I get schedule of the 30 years that are being used to determine my Social Security benefits
Hi,
If you're referring to Social Security retirement benefits then it's actually your highest 35 years of wage-indexed earnings that are used to calculate your benefit rate. If you aren't yet receiving benefits you can generally access your earnings history online. For how to go about doing that, refer to the following Social Security webpage: https://www.ssa.gov/hlp/global/hlp-statement- . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: May 23 2020 - 9:35am
Am I Correct That I Should Have Been Paid Benefits In The Past, And Can I Do Anything About It Now?
My former spouse died at the age of 36 in 1995. I was 37, and cared for our two children, who were 10 and 7 at the time of his death. I applied for survivors benefits and advised I would receive three separate checks for each of us. When the following month came, I only received two checks, one for each of the children individually. I called the office to inquire about it and was then told I didn't qualify for widows benefits. I didn't apply for widows benefits, I applied for survivors benefits, which they had that information. I was the mother and caregiver of our children and . . . Read More
Category: Survivor Benefits
Posted: May 21 2020 - 8:32am
What Happens To The Money I Paid Into Social Security Prior To Working For The Railroad?
What happens to the money I paid into Social Security prior to working for the Railroad? Are those contributions separate from my contributions to Railroad Retirement? Or will all be combined? By the way I worked for the Railroad for 17 years and am currently 54 years of age.
Hi,
If you don't have sufficient Social Security credits to qualify for Social Security benefits, or if you do have enough credits but choose not to file for Social Security benefits, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) can use the earnings on which you paid Social Security taxes . . . Read More
Category: Railroad Retirement & Social Security
Posted: May 21 2020 - 8:15am
Is My Mentally Disabled Brother-In-Law Entitled To Collect Some Of His Father's SS Money?
My brother in law is mentally disabled, he gets a $712.00 per month . He's father is deceased now, took care of him all of his life. Is he ( the son) entitled to collect some of his father's SS money? The $712.00 isn't enough for him to find housing to live.
Thank you,
Hi,
If your brother-in-law is unmarried and he became disabled prior to age 22, then he may be able to qualify for disabled adult child's (DAC) benefits from his father's account. You don't mention what type of disability benefits your brother-in-law currently receives, but if it . . . Read More
Category: Disabled Adult Child Benefits
Posted: May 20 2020 - 3:29pm
What Can I Do To Start Earning Work Credits For Social Security?
What can I do in order to start earning work credits for Social Security ? Is filing a self-employment tax return from my income abroad enough ? I have dual citizenship and I live most of the year abroad (in Greece)
Hi,
The only way that you can earn U.S. Social Security tax credits is by either earning wages that are subject to U.S. Social Security taxes, or by producing net earnings (NESE) from a trade or business subject to U.S. self-employment taxes. In 2020, you can earn 1 quarter of Social Security coverage (QC) for each $1410 of wages or NESE . . . Read More
Category: Earnings Subject To Social Security Taxes
Posted: May 20 2020 - 10:40am
What Happens If Your Spouse Died So Young That It Would Be Impossible To Be Married For 10 Years?
What happens if your spouse died so young (22) that it would be impossible to be married for ten years?
Hi,
Ten years of marriage is only required to receive divorced spousal benefits or surviving divorced spousal benefits. If you're still married to your spouse at the time of their death you would only need to have been married for at least 9 months to meet the marriage duration requirement for widow's benefits (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.04/handbook- . . . Read More
Category: Survivor Benefits
Posted: May 19 2020 - 11:16am
If I Get My Social Security At Age 68 And Continue Working Will My Social Security Payout Increase?
This year I will be 65 years old. I am planning to continue to work. My wife has never worked. She is not in great health.
If I get my Social Security at 68 years and continue to work will my Social Security payout increase? My mutual fund's value around $500K by 72 years at 6% do you for an average can live comfortably? Thank you.
Hi,
Your monthly Social Security retirement benefit rate would get progressively higher for each month that you delay starting your benefits until age 70. Your rate would increase by at least 2/3rds of 1% for each . . . Read More
Category: Retirement Benefits
Posted: May 19 2020 - 10:57am
Are The AWI Calculations Already Baked In?
I am trying to get a handle on (age 57) what my future benefit might be at age 70. I have an idea, utilizing the SSC retirement calculator. What I don't understand is: 1. Are AWI calculations already baked in? If not, how would I figure those in and account for them - yearly averages, start with my estimated benefit at 70 and add the percentage every year until 62? 2. Same questions for COLA(62-70). Using a hypothetical of a current estimated benefit of $1000 at age 70, how do I figure out what my true estimated benefit might be if I account for AWI and COLA? Thanks
. . . Read More
Category: Retirement Benefits
Posted: May 18 2020 - 7:36am
Do You Have Advice On The 'Deal' That I Was Offered?
After filing benefits start at 70 this Aug, SSA agent called w/ retroactive offer going back year (started online app Jan so retro 6 months to July 2019, thou submitted app this May). I never heard such thing. Offer is lump sum 9 months retro 18K (wow). Catch is benefit, for life, as filed 7/19, 13 months earlier. Was pressured on call to decide then. I said had do math. Told had decide very soon. Agent called back less 24 hours later asking, "you decide yet?". Few things told by agent untrue: w/ lump sum 100 years to have $131 less benefit make difference; have only 2 options . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: May 16 2020 - 9:25am
Should I File An Appeal?
I am drawing SSI and elagiable for Difficulty of care act payments. Is this something they can take out of my SSI? Reporting requirements state earned and unearned income must be reported. This payment is not taxable and nor refundable at end of year. It's considered reimbursement. SS says it is to be deducted. Should I appeal this or just deal with IT?
Thanks Kathy
Hi Kathy,
I'm not familiar with difficulty of care act payments, and my expertise in the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program is limited. However, if the payments you refer to . . . Read More
Category: Supplemental Security Income
Posted: May 16 2020 - 8:34am
